9 Apps to Track Lost or Stolen Android Devices

There are various apps designed to track lost Android phones, each with different tracking methods. Some use the internet, others use the phone number, email, or even the IMEI number.

Here, I'll recommend some apps for tracking lost or stolen Android phones. Some of these apps are free, while others require payment.

1. Google Find My Device

Finding your missing phone has become much simpler with apps like Google Find My Device. This app offers three key features to help you locate your lost Android phone.

The first feature is "Get directions". It shows you the location of your phone, allowing you to go directly to the place indicated by the app. The second feature, "Play a sound", makes your phone emit a noise when you're near its location, so you can find it more easily.

The third feature focuses on securing your phone. With "Secure device", you can lock your personal data and erase chats. If needed, you can even perform a factory reset directly through Google Find My Device.

In my view, Google Find My Device is one of the easiest, safest, and most convenient tools for tracking down a lost Android phone. Download it from the Google Play Store.

2. Life360: Family Locator & GPS Tracker

Use Life360: Family Locator & GPS Tracker to find your stolen Android phone. This app shows the location of your lost phone with the help of an extra app called Tile.

To use it, you need to connect Life360 with Tile, which helps track electronic devices like cell phones and laptops. However, when I tried it, it only supported a few device brands, including Lenovo and HP Inc.

Life360 tracks the location of registered devices using GPS, so it asks you to keep the location feature active on your phone or other devices. Besides tracking phones, this app can also locate your family members or friends. Everyone in your family can join a group, or "circle," that you set up.

Life360 is also useful for keeping tabs on family or friends when they're traveling. Download Life360 from the Google Play Store.

3. Find My Phone - Family Locator

Find My Phone - Family Locator quickly finds a device using its phone number. Just enter the phone number of the device you want to locate and press the search button. The app will then automatically find its location.

As the name suggests, this app is designed to help keep your family safe. You can add all your family members to a group by entering their phone numbers.

You'll be able to see each family member's location instantly, which means you can also track their electronic devices. One limitation is that it can't locate a device if it's turned off, as the phone number and GPS need to be active.

Note that Find My Phone - Family Locator has a subscription fee for its features, which I find quite expensive for a one-week subscription. But if you're interested in trying it, you can download the app from the Google Play Store.

4. Tracky: Location GPS Sharing

Tracky: Location GPS Sharing is another app that uses phone numbers to locate devices. Enter the phone number from your contacts or type it in manually. This app can track locations almost anywhere in the world.

Once you enter the number, Tracky will provide detailed location information of the device. To access this feature, however, you need to subscribe to Tracky's premium plan, which offers both monthly and yearly options.

Unlike Find My Phone - Family Locator, Tracky can also keep a record of the places the device user has visited, not just their current location. You can download Tracky: Location GPS Sharing from the Google Play Store.

5. Phone Tracker By Number

Like Tracky, Phone Tracker By Number locates lost cell phones using the registered phone number.

Enter the cell phone number of the device you're looking to track and hit the "Locate" button. The app sends a short message with an "Invitation" to the phone. Once the invitation is accepted, simply press the "View" button on the app's homepage to see the phone's location.

This method is easy to follow, but there's a catch. The invitation is sent as a text message, and the receiver of the tracked phone must click the link in the message to allow their location to be tracked.

This could be challenging if your phone is off or taken by someone untrustworthy. However, if a kind person finds your phone and is willing to return it, this app can be helpful. It's free to use, with a subscription fee for unlocking all features.

Although it may not be as advanced as other apps, Phone Tracker By Number is still worth trying. You can download it from the Google Play Store.

6. Wheres My Droid

Use Wheres My Droid to find your lost Android phone. This app is quite effective in locating phones through GPS.

It offers several features to help you find a misplaced or stolen phone. One such feature is "Commander" mode, which lets you take control of your device. When activated, you can easily find your phone's location on a map.

Another feature I found useful is "Theft Detection". It allows you to see the thief's face and actions through the app. For protecting your data, you can use "Lock setup" to lock your phone, or "Wipe setup" to perform a remote factory reset.

A unique aspect of Wheres My Droid is its ability to track your phone's location even when the battery is low, thanks to the "GPS Flare" feature.

However, features like GPS Flare, Commander mode, and Theft Detection are part of the premium "Elite package", which means there's a fee. But in my opinion, the cost is worth the features you get. You can download the app from the Google Play Store.

7. Find Lost Phone: Find My Phone

If you've lost your Android phone, don't worry. Just install Find Lost Phone: Find My Phone. This app has many helpful features. For instance, the "Ring Silent Phone" feature plays a loud ringtone on your phone, which is great if you've misplaced it nearby.

The "Get Lost Phone" feature helps you discover your phone's location, and I've found it to be quite accurate.

What impressed me most were the anti-theft features, like the "Don't Touch My Phone" function. When this is activated, the phone's flashlight turns on, and there are vibrations and an alarm sound to deter thieves.

This app also keeps a record of your phone's location history. Find Lost Phone: Find My Phone is free to use, though it does show quite a few ads. A premium service is available if you prefer an ad-free experience.

8. Prey Anti Theft

Prey Anti Theft is an app that helps you identify Android thieves as it has got features like screenshot capture. When I reported my phone as missing, the app began tracking it immediately. It suggested monitoring the phone's location every 2 minutes to pinpoint its position.

Once you report your phone as lost, Prey Anti Theft sends a screenshot of the area where your phone is. You can also track it using a map, set off an alarm on the phone, or lock the device for added security.

In my view, Prey Anti Theft is one of the best apps for tracking lost phones. However, some might find its features a bit complex and hard to use. You can download Prey Anti Theft for free from the Google Play Store.

9. Find My Phone (Android Wear)

Find My Phone (Android Wear) is another app that helps you locate a stolen phone. First, you need to register your device with the app. Then, if your phone goes missing, you can use another Android device to locate it.

I tried this with an Android tablet and logged in with the same account. The location of the lost phone was quickly found. The app even provided a route to the phone's location using Google Maps.

You can't register your device manually in this app; it automatically activates the device and its location when installed. Therefore, if you haven't installed this app on your lost device, you won't be able to track it. It's best to install this app when you first get your phone as a precaution.

Find My Phone also helps find lost smartwatches and includes a special alarm to make locating your device easier. Keep in mind that the geolocation and device detection services are available only with the premium package.

So, those are some apps you can use to track lost Android phones. These apps are available on the Google Play Store. However, they require full access to certain features on your phone. If you're concerned about data security, it might be safer to stick to Google's built-in apps.